Incorrigibles: Breaking the Cycle of Girls’ Incarceration in NY

January 24, 2018 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

The Vera Institute of Justice and Incorrigibles invite you to a screening, panel and community conversation about ending girls incarceration in New York City: Incorrigibles: Breaking the Cycle of Girls’ Incarceration in New York

Girls have long been criminalized for “incorrigible” or “defiant” behaviors—running away, fighting at home, or staying out late. These actions are often triggered by underlying problems, including physical or sexual abuse, commercial sexual exploitation and survival sex, and neglect.

As the country engages in a national dialogue around racism, sexism, and misogyny—and the convergence of these harsh realities in the lives of girls of color and LGB/GNCT youth —we must review with new u…rgency why girls are coming into the justice system.

The Vera Institute of Justice is excited to partner with artist Alison Cornyn and Incorrigibles—a multimedia storytelling project about girls’ incarceration in New York State over the last 100 years. Drawing on both personal narratives and archival documents from the first New York State Training School for Girls, the stories Cornyn uncovers are hauntingly similar to what we know still happens to girls today, and which Vera is now addressing through our efforts to end girls’ incarceration in New York City.

Please join us for a special screening of an excerpt of the Incorrigibles film, a panel discussion and community conversation at the Irondale Center in Brooklyn. This event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP at the link included. Light refreshments will be served.

Featured speakers to date include:

+ Brittany Brathwaite, youth engagement specialist and member of the New York City Task Force on Ending Girls’ Incarceration

+ Gladys Carrión, former commissioner of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and the New York City Administration for Children’s Services

+ Kathleen Hulser, public historian for Incorrigibles

+ Shabnam Javdani, assistant professor of applied psychology, New York University

+ Lillian Perez, youth liaison for Incorrigibles

At Irondale, attendees will see life-size installations of archival photos documenting girls housed at the Training School. We’re encouraging attendees to take photos and share them on social media, using the hashtags #incorrigiblegirls #endgirlsincarceration. Together, we can raise awareness for why fighting for girls matters—in New York City and beyond.

Funding for this event is provided in part by Humanities New York, the Brooklyn Arts Council, and the New York Foundation for the Arts.